Where Credit is Due

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Where Credit Is Due: May 2014

Vetus Maxwell

While my wife and I have given up sailing, our current boat, a 1998 Eastbay 38, is equipped with a Maxwell Freedom 800 windlass. When preparing the boat for launch this year, I noticed that the sight glass had been splintered. Likely due to a previously broken seal that allowed water into the gearbox and the water freezing during one of the coldest winters in Connecticut in years.

The day I noticed the problem, I called Vetus Maxwell (www.vetus-maxwell.com) for help. After an “absolutely we can help,” I was transferred to Will Vrooman, sales manager for Vetus Maxwell America, based in California. Will immediately sent me exploded drawings of the 16-year-old windlass, and then walked me through the dismantling steps I needed to take. He then responded to text messages that I sent out while working on the windlass. In all, over the course of two days, Will would immediately respond to all my requests with hands-on support, even sending me additional drawings hand notated by him.

This was customer service par excellence and the type of support only the best in the industry provide. Thank you, Will and Maxwell.

Steve FlettAlerin, 1998 Eastbay 38Essex, Conn.

Aqua Signal

I have an Aqua Signal model TD 43 LED red/green nav light installed on the bow of my boat, which is two years old. The light has always had some condensation on the inside of the clear lens. The white stern light is an H43 and has never shown condensation.

It did not lend itself to disassembly, so I contacted the U.S. distributor, Glamox Aqua Signal Corp. (www.glamox.com), of Cary, Illinois. Matt Messmer promptly responded to my email, asking that I send the unit in for repair or replacement. A week later, I received a new unit free of charge.

I strongly encourage your readers to consider this company’s products when shopping for high-quality LED nav lights. Their quality customer service speaks for itself.

Larry WertschSparrowHawk, Hylas 46

Select Plastics

I recently was working on my Lewmar (www.lewmar.com) hatch lens and somehow managed to lose one of the two small retaining clips that attach the hatch hinge to the lens.

I could only purchase the entire hinge assembly from the manufacturer at a considerable price. But Tony D’Andrea at Select Plastics/ Hatchmasters (www.selectplastics.com) in Norwalk, Conn., was able to sell me the part I needed at a fantastic savings. It took a few emails and a picture to identify the part, then Tony sent it right out, and I was back in business. Great service and customer support.